Manual indexing mechanism for dial feeds



June 1969 R. G. SUNTHEIMER 51,291

MANUAL INDEXING MECHANISM FOR DIAL FEEDS Filed Feb. 20, 1968 INVENTOR.ROBERT G.SUNTHE|MER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent f 3,451,291 MANUAL INDEXING MEgHANISM FOR DIAL FEEDRobert G. Suntheimer, Hastings, Mich., assignor to E. W.

Bliss Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 20,1968, Ser. No. 706,956 Int. Cl. B23q 17/02 US. Cl. 74--813 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A manual indexing mechanism for a dial feedmechanism which is operative to disconnect the dial feed from the pressdrive. The mechanism includes timing means which assure the proper timedrelationship when the dial feed is re-connected to the press drive.

This invention relates to dial feeds for a press and, more particularly,to a manual indexing mechanism to permit manual indexing of the dialfeed.

Most dial type feed devices comprise a rotatable disc or dial providedwith a plurality of work receiving openings. The workpieces to be formedare deposited into the openings and the dial is rotated to a positionwhere one of the workpieces is delivered to the die. The ram of thepress is then reciprocated through the dial opening and into the diethus forming the previously deposited workpiece. Subsequently, the ramis withdrawn and means actuated to eject or lift the formed workpiecefrom the die back up to the same opening in the dial. Rotation of thedial then removes the formed workpiece from between the ram and die anddelivers it to a position where it can be removed from the dial.Simultaneously, another opening in the dial delivers a new workpiece tothe die.

It is readily apparent that the movement of the dial must be properlyco-ordinated with the movement of the ram. Accordingly, the drivemechanism for the dial feed usually is connected through appropriatemeans to the drive mechanism for the ram so that as the ram isreciprocated, the proper co-ordination of the dial is achieved.

It sometimes occurs in the use of such a dial feed mechanism, that thereis a need for rotating the dial feed independent of the ram. One suchinstance when this may occur is when there is a broken part in the diewhich then requires the indexing of the dial feed mechanism tofacilitate removal and replacement of the broken die. In suchcircumstances, it is desirable only to rotate the dial feed mechanismrather than cycle the entire press mechanism.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a manual releaseand indexing mechanism for the dial feed drive shaft whereby the feeddrive shaft may be rotated independently of the press drive shaft.

In accordance with the broad aspect of this invention, it iscontemplated that a press of the type having a rotating press driveshaft, a dial feed mechanism and a feed drive shaft will employ meansinterconnecting the press drive shaft with the feed drive shaft forsynchronous rotation with the interconnecting means including means formanually disengaging the feed drive shaft from the press drive shaftwhereby the feed drive shaft may be rotated independently of the pressdrive shaft. The in vention further contemplates means whereby thesynchronism of the two drive shafts may be re-established when the feeddrive shaft is reconnected with the press drive shaft.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a disengageable drivemeans between the press drive shaft 3,451,291 Patented June 24, 1969 ICCand the feed drive shaft which disengageable means includes a firstdrive member in the form of a gear rotatab-ly supported on the feeddrive shaft with the gear driveably connected .to the press drive shaft.A second gear is secured to the feed drive shaft for rotation therewithbut may move longitudinally of the feed drive shaft into and out ofmeshing engagement with the first gear. Spring means normally bias thesecond gear into meshing engagement with the first gear. A latch detenton the second gear is operative to lock the second gear in a disengagedposition when so desired whereby the feed drive shaft is disconnectedfrom the press drive shaft and may be manually rotated to index the dialfeed mechanism. A tooth on one of the gears is removed and "a valleybetween two teeth on the other gear is filled in so that the two gearswill mesh only in one position thereby assuring the proper timedrelationship between the press drive shaft and feed drive shaft wheneverthe two gears are intermeshed.

Other features of the invention will become more apparent upon acomplete reading 'of the following description which, together with theattached drawings, discloses but a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Such preferred embodiment is not intended to limiting sinceit constitutes but one Way in which the principles of the invention maybe employed.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicatelike parts in the various views.

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view through the feed drive shaftmechanism of a press.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated the mechanism comprisingthe instant invention. It is to be understood that the elementsillustrated are incorporated in a conventional power press, the detailsof which form no portion of this invention and are well known to thoseskilled in the press art. Thus, the press would comprise a standardpress frame 10 with a press drive shaft supported for rotation in thecrown of the press. A dial feed mechanism 12 would be supported in thebed of the press with the dial feed actuating mechanism connected by acoupling 14 to a dial feed shaft 16 rotatably supported by a bushing 18in the press. The shaft 16 is connected by appropriate means forsynchronized rotation with the press drive shaft and it is thisinterconnection with the press drive shaft which is the subject of thisinvention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, there is a timing belt sheave 20 rotatablysupported on the flanged bushing 18. A timing belt 22 passes around thesheave 20 and, through appropriate sheaves on the press drive shaft,interconnects the sheave 20 for rotation with the press drive shaft.

The sheave 20 is recessed in one axial face thereof and has secured inthe recess a ring gear 24 with the gear having internal teeth which facetoward the shaft 16. A hub 30 is received over the end of the shaft 16projecting through the sheave 20 and includes external teeth 32 whichform a gear on the periphery thereof with the external teeth beingadapted to engage the teeth on the ring gear 24. A key 34 connects thehub 30 with the shaft 16 for unitary rotation therewith; however, thekeyed connection between the hub and the shaft 16 permits the hub 30 tomove longitudinally of the shaft 16. A nut 36 is threaded on the otherend of the shaft '16 with a spring 38 encircling the shaft and beinginterposed between the nut 36 and the hub 30 thereby exerting a biasingforce on the hub 30 to move the hub toward the sheave 20. The hub 30further includes a radially extending rib 40 which facilitates manuallygrasping the hub 30 and moving it longitudinally of the shaft againstthe bias of the spring 38.

A detent mechanism is employed to retain the teeth. 32

on hub 30 disengaged from the gear 24 on sheave 20. The detent mechanismcomprises a bore 42 formed in the hub 30 with a plunger or locking pin44 passing through a cap nut 46 into the bore 42. The pin has a head 48at one end and a spring 50 tending to bias the locking pin radiallyinward into engagement with the periphery of the shaft 16. Acircumferential groove 52 is formed in the shaft with the position ofthe groove 52 being longitudinally displaced from the normal position ofthe lock pin when the hub 30 is biased into engagement with the ringgear 24. It will be appreciated that should the hub 30 be withdrawnlongitudinally along the shaft 16 away from the sheave 20, the spring 50will act on the lock pin 44 to bias the lock pin into the groove 52 asthe pin is positioned thereover. In this condition, the hub 30 will belocked against longitudinal movement along the shaft 16 and thereby beretained in a disengaged position.

The above-described mechanism provides a means whereby the dial feedmechanism may be manually rotated independent of the press drive system.Thus, in the condition of the parts as shown in FIGURE 1, rotation ofthe press drive will, through the belt 22, drive the sheave 20 whichthrough the meshing engagement of the gear 24 with the teeth 32 on thehub will drive the hub 30 and thereby the shaft 16. However, if it isdesired to disconnect the dial feed mechanism from the press drive, allthat is necessary is to grasp the hub 30 and pull the hub longitudinallyalong the shaft 16 against the bias of the spring 38 until the lockingpin 44 is positioned over the groove 52. In this position, the lockingpin will snap into the groove due to the action of the spring and lockthe hub in a disengaged position thereby isolating the driving sheave 20from driving relationship with the shaft 16. With the hub 30 disengaged,the shaft 16 may be rotated manually by applying a wrench to the nut 36and rotating the shaft and thereby the dial feed mechanism. To reengagethe shift 16 with the press drive system, all that is required is tolift the locking pin 44 and the spring pressure exerted by the spring 38will move the hub 30 longitudinally of the shaft 16 into engagement withthe ring gear 24. To limit the movement of the hub 30 under the bias ofthe spring 38, there is provided a stepped shoulder 16a on shaft '16which functions as a stop to position the hub and its associated gearwith the ring gear 24.

It is, of course, necessary to maintain the proper timed relationshipbetween the press drive and the dial feed mechanisms. Accordingly, topermit the manual rotation of the feed mechanism while yet assuring theproper timed relationship when the gears are re-engaged, there isprovided timing means which assure that the gears will reengage only inthe proper timed relationship. Thus, referring to FIGURE 2, the ringgear 24 is of a conventional spur gear design with the exception thatthe valley between two adjacent teeth is filled in to form a timing lug54. Similarly, one of the teeth 32 on the hub 30 is removed toaccommodate the timing lug 54. With this arrangement, the two gears canmesh only in one position thereby assuring that the timing between thepress drive shaft and the feed shaft is at all times maintained.

Modifications and changes in the described invention will suggestthemselves to those having ordinary skill in the art. Changes andmodifications such as these are contemplated by the principles of thisinvention so that, although for ease of description the principles ofthe invention have been set forth in connection with but one illustratedembodiment, it is not intended that this embodiment or the terminologyemployed in describing it is to be limiting, but rather it is my desireto be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a press of the type having a rotating press drive shaft, a dialfeed mechanism, a feed drive shaft and means interconnecting said feeddrive shaft with said press drive shaft, the improvement comprising:

said interconnecting means including manual means for connecting anddisconnecting said feed drive shaft from said press drive shaft wherebysaid feed drive shaft may be maually rotated independently of said pressdrive shaft.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means furtherincludes timing means operative to prevent the interconnection of saidfeed drive shaft with said press drive shaft other than in apredetermined time relationship.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting meansincludes a first drive member rotatably supported on said feed driveshaft and drivably connected to said press drive shaft,

21 second drive member in driving engagement with said feed drive shaft;and,

means for selectively interconnecting said first and second drivemembers in driving relationship whereby said feed drive shaft may bedriven by said press drive shaft.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first drive member comprisesa first gear and said second drive member comprises a second gear,

said second gear being secured to said feed drive shaft for unitaryrotation therewith and movement longitudinally thereof.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said selective interconnectingmeans comprises means normally biasing said second gear into meshingengagement with said first gear.

6. The improvement of claim 5 and further including detent means formaintaining said second gear out of meshing engagement with said firstgear.

7. The improvement of claim 6 and further including means on said feeddrive shaft for manually rotating said feed drive shaft.

8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said gears include meanspreventing meshing interengagement other than in a predeterminedrelationship.

9. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said drive members include meansfor preventing the driving engagement of said members other than in apredetermined timed relationship.

10. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said detent means includes agroove in said feed drive shaft and a locking pin on said second gear.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,370 7/1953 Armitage 74-625XR 2,956,464 10/1960 Charron 8341l XR 3,039,163 6/1962 Elliott 83267 XRFRED C. MATTERN, Jr., Primary Examiner.

F. D. SHOEMAKER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

